Cox hopeful of MEPs’ statute deal

EUROPEAN Parliament President Pat Cox says he is “optimistic” an agreement will be reached by Spring over a proposed MEPs’ statute on pay and allowances.

European Voice

1/22/03, 5:00 PM CET

Updated 4/12/14, 8:35 AM CET

It follows a pledge from Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis that finding a solution to the long-running saga is a “priority” for his country’s six-month presidency. MEPs have been unable to reach an accord in more than three years of negotiations.

In December, Cox proposed a deal under which deputies would earn about €8,500 a month in exchange for promising to clean up their expenses regime. But a scheme put forward earlier by German MEP Willi Rothley contained no pledge to reform

the present non-transparent expenses system.

Both Cox and Rothley, deputy chairman of the legal affairs committee, have now written to Simitis pledging to step up their efforts to find a compromise. Their letter acknowledges the need for “greater transparency” over MEPs’ pay and expenses. Agreement has come a step nearer with the setting up of a working group to review the thorny issue of MEPs’ expenses. The group met for the first time last week. It comprises quaestor Richard Balfe and four European Parliament vice-presidents: Ingo Friedrich (EPP, Germany), Alejo Vidal-Quadras Roca (EPP, Spain), Joan Colom Naval (PES, Spain) and Gérard Onesta (Greens, France).

At present, MEPs are paid the same salary as their fellow national MPs, which creates large disparities in earnings.